ERIC Number: ED405344
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1996-Feb
Pages: 18
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Decker Family Development Center: Supportive Data of an Intervention Model for Multiple-Risk Families.
Newman, Carole; And Others
The Decker Family Development Center in Barberton (Ohio) is a holistic "one-stop shop" that provides services to families who are at multiple risk. During its 5 years of operation, this center has developed a model that goes beyond cooperation into co-construction to empower stakeholders. This paper describes the center and its successes and discusses the collection of data on early intervention and family programming. The Center represents the cooperative effort of the city schools, the University of Akron, the local children's hospital, the Summit County Department of Human Services, and the Akron Summit Community Action Agency. Its "DISNI" model requires agencies to: (1) devoid themselves of organizational territory issues; (2) increase communication; (3) share authority and power; (4) negotiate goals and objectives; and (5) have an intense sense of shared ownership in the model that is publicly displayed. Decker currently serves about 325 parents and their 435 preschool children. More than 75% are single-parent families. Services include day care, child development interventions, parent education programs, and various social services. There are many opportunities to collect data on the efficacy of early intervention and family support programs. While the data collected is not exhaustive, it provides the basis for demonstrating the efficacy of investing in children from birth. The Decker model shows communities that they can intervene with at-risk children in their early years. An example of annual report organization is attached as a model for program planners. (Contains three tables and three figures.) (SLD)
Descriptors: Agency Cooperation, Annual Reports, At Risk Persons, Cooperative Planning, Day Care, Early Intervention, Empowerment, Family Programs, Integrated Services, Models, Parent Education, Preschool Children, Preschool Education, Program Development, Shared Resources and Services, Stakeholders, Urban Areas
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ohio
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A